Meet the Artist- Knud Nielsen
Knud Nielsen is considered one of the most
important Danish artists of the 20th century.
Knud Nielsen
Knud Nielsen was a Danish artist and painter. He is considered one of the most important artists of Denmark in the 20th century. He was artistically and philosophically very close to the CoBrA movement, and a close friendship connected him with its members.
Nielsen was born in 1916 in Denmark. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. In 1949, he became a member of the CoBrA group, a short-lived but influential art movement that emerged in Europe after World War II.
Nielsen’s work is characterized by its bold colours, expressive brushwork, and abstract forms. Nielsen passed away in 2008 at the age of 92. His legacy as one of Denmark’s most important artists of the 20th century continues to be celebrated today.
Explore Knud Nielsen’s Art
The Knud Nielsen Gallery in Denmark is home to an amazing collection of paintings of the late artist. For over half a century, the gallery has worked with international art curators to exhibit his sublime work to the world.
CoBrA: the last true avant-garde movement of the 20th century
COBRA was a European avant-garde movement active from 1948 to 1951. The name was coined in 1948 by Christian Dotremont from the initials of the members’ home cities: Copenhagen, Brussels, Amsterdam.
During the time of occupation of World War II, the Netherlands had been disconnected from the art world beyond its borders. COBRA was formed shortly thereafter. This international movement of artists who worked experimentally evolved from the criticisms of Western society and a common desire to break away from existing art movements, including “detested” naturalism and “sterile” abstraction.